100 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to help unlock the potential of whenua Māori

She says this is the first practical step to reform whenua which will provide economic benefits of up to $650 million for whānau in the future.

Minister Mahuta said that as access to capital remains a problem for Māori land owners, the PGF was in a unique position to help these land owners and make the regions prosperous.

Māori Trustee Dr Charlotte Severne says, “We’re pleased to see some of the challenges we've experienced in sustainably developing whenua being recognised by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, including access to capital and the amount of Māori freehold land not in productive use.”

Te Tumu Paeroa is the largest single administrator of Māori land, looking after over 90,000 hectares of land held in over 1,800 trusts on behalf of nearly 100,000 owners. We’ve been working with a number of trusts that are investment ready.

As part of whenua reform, Hon Nanaia Mahuta also announced a new cross-government Whenua Māori Programme which would stimulate opportunities for whānau. This would include legislative amendments, new on-the-ground services for Māori land owners and technology improvements.

Dr Severne says, “we’re lending our support to increasing services for Māori land owners, by providing input to help shape the Whenua Māori Programme as it develops.

(Source: Beehive.govt.nz)